Horton Foote, at first, would not allow another film version of his play, because he didn't want anybody to play Carrie except Lillian Gish. He later agreed, but only if either Geraldine Page or Kim Stanley played Carrie.
Geraldine Page's actual twin sons appear in the film. They are standing behind her in line at the bus station as she purchases a ticket. This explains why they actually appear as cast members Tony Torn and John Torn in the credits.
Just seconds after F. Murray Abraham declared her the winner of the Best Actress Oscar, the audience, including her fellow nominees in the category, broke out into an uproarious standing ovation. Everyone, except Geraldine Page, was on their feet as she had kicked off her shoes while waiting for her category to come up and had to find them and put them back on. The rousing ovation lasted beyond the moment she got to the podium and held her Oscar, a momentous honor to a legend of both stage and screen.